Printed Arrows: Bead Material
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
Twenty sets of colour coded arrows printed with the multiples, laid alongside the bead chains as a child skip counts them. The arrows are graded in width by category, narrowest for the units and wider as the hierarchy climbs, so the child feels the change in place value in the object itself rather than only reading it. Placing an arrow at each step turns counting a chain into a record that stays on the mat and can be checked. Painted wood with clear acrylic, for ages 3 to 6.
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
The Printed Arrows for Bead Material transform abstract numerical concepts into concrete visual experiences through their color-coded wooden design.
- Construct and read numbers from 1 to 9,999,999 using color-coded arrows
- Associate written numerals with corresponding golden bead quantities
- Understand place value through physical manipulation of hierarchical arrows
- Develop left-to-right number reading skills through arrow placement
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Each arrow's distinct color represents a specific place value category, allowing children to physically construct numbers from units to millions. The clear acrylic compartments create an organized system where children independently select the precise arrows needed for their mathematical work. By manipulating these wooden arrows alongside golden bead quantities, children discover how written numerals correspond to actual quantities in the decimal system. The arrows' horizontal layout mirrors the left-to-right reading pattern of our number system, while their overlapping arrangement reveals how digits combine to form complete numbers. This mathematical manipulative set addresses the developmental need for children to understand that numbers are composed of distinct place values, each with its own significance. Through repeated construction and reading of large numbers using these arrows, children internalize the hierarchical structure of our decimal system before encountering abstract arithmetic operations.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the arrow box on a mat with golden bead material nearby. Ensure all arrows are sorted correctly in their acrylic compartments: green units, blue tens, red hundreds, and green thousands family.
- 1
Invite the child to bring a quantity of golden beads (e.g., 2,346)
Start with four-digit numbers before progressing to larger quantities - 2
Show how to select the matching arrows: 2000 (green), 300 (red), 40 (blue), 6 (green)
Always work from largest to smallest place value - 3
Demonstrate placing arrows right to left, overlapping to show the complete number
Align arrows precisely so only the rightmost digits of each arrow remain visible - 4
Read the constructed number aloud, pointing to each visible digit
Emphasize the connection between the arrow colors and bead hierarchy - 5
Invite the child to construct their own numbers with beads and arrows
Observe their arrow selection process to assess understanding
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Printed Arrows: Bead Material
